THE YEAR THAT WAS
2006 has been a transitional 12 months, but we always adjust to new eras and move forward
BY GEORGE HARRIS

George Harris is publisher of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. He is also a political activist and successful Southern Nevadan businessman. Reach Harris at gopgeorge@earthlink.net  Other stories by George Harris

Another year nears the history books. And an interesting year it was. Donald Rumsfeld retired. Democrats reclaimed the House and Senate. Sandra Tiffany lost her state Senate seat. And Monday Night Football is no longer a network feature. 

The times they are a changin'.

But the truth is, the year wasn't exactly that bad for conservatives. As I mentioned last month, this is as opportune of a time to regroup, refocus and reclaim control. We must return to conservative roots versus neoconservative ideals. The most noteworthy point to conclude this year with is that America is enjoying a strong economy that has survived recession, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and a war in Iraq. Also, a rising stock market and low unemployment are testimonies to the economy's buoyancy.

The Bush administration appears to embrace the concept of multilateral diplomacy. This is particularly evident in the case of North Korea, where the administration has opted for six-party diplomacy and enlisted China as the leading participant to bring pressure to bear on Pyongyang. Though North Korea may not, in the end, give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons, no U.S. military action against North Korea is on the horizon.

Furthermore, a trial in Baghdad, despite rotating judges and assassinated attorneys, pronounced Saddam Hussein guilty of crimes against humanity and justly sentenced him. Live or die, Hussein will not again commit murder again.

While America's political system may seem unwieldy, the length of a presidential campaign and the extraordinary pressures it imposes upon candidates have a way of letting voters discard the fragile and move the worthy along. Already for 2008 we have an array of Republicans seeking the White House with impressive credentials. More will emerge to submit themselves to the scrutiny of inquiring journalists, doubting opponents and the electorate. The system works - and usually spawns the best.

Other positives include gasoline prices, which have fallen. However, their recent highs have awakened many to the need to tackle the problem of increasing oil consumption around the world in the long-term face of declining supply. China's extraordinary economic development has made it a voracious consumer, cutting deals with oil producers in Latin America, Africa and wherever else oil can be acquired. Talk of making America independent of foreign oil is fanciful. The answer is to reduce the consumption of foreign oil as much as possible, but to discover and harness alternatives to oil. Thus the emphasis must be on cars that use less gasoline, while finding alternatives such as ethanol, and at the same developing solar power, wind power, and other power as alternatives to oil for heating and other domestic purposes.

Experts are divided about the time when natural sources of oil will dry up. But we should be thankful that at last Americans are beginning to focus on this issue that may bring serious problems for generations to come.

On the home front, while Sen. Bob Beers lost during the primaries in August, he's a force to be reckoned with in 2007. He's certain to obtain the position of Senate Finance Committee Chairman and will serve as the second most powerful man in the state, next to Gov. Jim Gibbons, to whom he lost. With this in mind, the message and policies that conservatives explored this year may come to life following the 2007 legislative session. That possibility, in and of itself, already makes next year one to eagerly anticipate.

2006 has been a transitional year and we all adjust to new eras. With that, I wish you, your friends and family an enjoyable holiday season - because come January, we've got more work to do. LW